A Shattered Soul

Chapter 5

The sun had not yet cracked the horizon when Thomas threw the blankets off of himself and crawled out of the warmth of his bed into the chilly, pre-dawn air. He shivered as threw on a plain tunic and gray trousers.

The door creaked open as his mother poked her head into the tiny room. "Good, you're awake."

Thomas grinned sheepishly at her. "Awake in body, but not in spirit. This whole waking up early thing has me wishing I never became friends with Ivan." His mom raised an eyebrow.

"Really?"

"Of course not. That was, as some people call it, a joke." He stood and crossed the room till he was standing just in front of her. "I can see where it got confusing though, with old age and all." Her hand rang off the back of his head.

"You better watch it."

Thomas laugh. "Watch what?" He ducked as she swiped at his head again.

"Too slow," he teased. He made his way into his family's small kitchen where his mom had sat a pot of freshly brewed coffee.

"Did you buy this with the money I gave you?"

"Yes," his mom replied. "I didn't use all of it so you can have what's left."

"No, no it's okay mother. You keep it. You and Mia will need it more than I do." He drained the last of his cup and threw the dregs into the wastebasket.

"You drink more coffee than I do," his mom commented.

"It isn't that hard to do," he replied.

As he made his way to the front door, he grabbed his work bag and pulled on his boots. When he opened it, the first thing he noticed Ivan was sitting on the front steps.

"This whole, not thinking I'll wake up on time and let you down attitude, is getting old. We've been working for two weeks and I've made it every time."

Ivan's teeth flashed white in the premorning gloom. "How do you think I've felt for the last 16 years?"

"Nothing before the age of ten counts. That is the deal we made."

Thomas started walking in the direction of the lumber yard with Ivan on his heels.

Despite the fact the sun's rays hadn't yet topped the mountains that surrounded the valley, a host of Bellwood's inhabitants were already preparing for the day.

Thomas eyed the people he and Ivan walked by, noticing how a good number of them were older.

"Do you think people who are older have trouble sleeping?"

Ivan eyed him. "What do you mean?"

"I always see older people up before the sun has risen, and I'm saying this next piece from experience. They always go to bed early. Sun goes down and my grandfather falls asleep."

Ivan scowled. "This is what you are choosing to focus on? And right before work too"

"What's the problem?" Thomas grinned. "My mind wanders. Plus, thinking about odd stuff keeps me entertained and above water."

Ivan gave Thomas a grin himself. "It definitely keeps me below water."

"Considering the fact that you can't swim, I am not all that surprised." When Ivan didn't reply, he switched topics. "Two more weeks Ivan. Two more weeks and we leave here."

Ivan sighed. "You sound excited."

"I partially am. A majority of me isn't though."

Thomas looked at his friend. "You, however, don't sound even close to excited." He frowned as Ivan just shrugged.

"I'm not excited to leave but I'm not sad either," said Ivan "It's just something we have to do."

Once Ivan finished speaking the pair had reached the lot where the loggers would displace their wood hauls. As they waited for the first of the carts to arrive, they nursed the hot cups of coffee their employer had brought them.

Thomas eyed Ivan as he carefully sipped at the hot beverage.

"I think coffee is what makes this friendship work."

Ivan raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?"

"Strong coffee forms a strong bond." Thomas grinned as he finished the last of his cup and set the mug to the side.

Ivan scrunched his nose. "I am going to assume that is not your first cup."

"Of course it's not my first cup. I've been drinking coffee since I was ten."

Ivan just rolled his eyes. "I know you know that is not what I mean. I am guessing that is not your first cup today."

Thomas cocked his head. "What would you do if I said that it is, in fact, my first cup today?" He chuckled to himself.

"I'd call you a liar," said Ivan.

"Well you get to call me a liar. It was my second cup. Which is an all-time low for me. I'm used to having three or four cups by now." A small smile slowly streaked across his face.

"You have a major problem, Thomas."

Thomas dismissed the thought with a wave of his hand. "Tell it to someone who cares."

He stood up from the small stool he had been sitting on and looked at the beaten path that led into the surrounding mountains. He cracked his knuckles.

"We've got company."

Four men, draped in leathers, appeared out of the gloom leading a pair of thick-bodied horses that were hitched to a cart.

Thomas groaned. He had counted at least 30 logs strapped to the flat-bedded cart. He rolled up his sleeves in preparation for the grueling work that was to come.

"This is going to be a long morning," he whispered to himself as he bent over to pick up the first log as it was loaded off the cart.

Hour after hour, more and more logs continued to be brought in and Thomas and Ivan continued to stack them into piles of twenty. After filling the main lot, they were forced to move to a smaller, secondary lot.

Thomas eyed the train of carts and winced as he flexed his stiff muscles.

"It has never been this busy," he said as he pulled his damp shirt off.

"I know," Ivan replied. He glanced up at the hot sun before taking his shirt off as well. "What do you think caused it?"

Thomas went to reply but was cut off as their employer approached unnoticed from behind and started speaking.

"King Ellias decreed it. He plans to build our navy up in wake of a threat made by the Emperor of Sailark"

The wiry man paused for a couple seconds to collect his thoughts. "Their armada could crush ours in a matter of days. It's our military might over land that keeps us safe though. Man for man our soldiers have better training."

He grinned. "Sailark is scared of the retribution they'll face if they invade, so they trade with us instead." His old-brown eyes slide over Thomas and Ivan's tense frames. "I thought by now I would be used to you two not wearing your shirts but I'm not."

Without another word the old man shambled away.

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